Frigidaire Air Conditioner P1 Error Code: Bottom Water Tray Full (How to Drain It)

What the code means

Frigidaire's Room Air Conditioners error code guide says P1 "indicates the bottom tray is full." Its fix is to carefully move the unit to a drain location, remove the bottom drain plug and let the water drain away (you may need to tilt or angle the unit), then reset it by unplugging it for up to 30 seconds and plugging it back in; it adds that the tray may be full the first time the unit runs for the season. The owner's manuals for Frigidaire portable units say the same thing in more detail. The FAP09C3AJW manual says that when the lower water tray reaches a set level the unit beeps 8 times, shows P1 and the air conditioner stops immediately, while the fan motor keeps working (normal). The FRA093PT1 guide says to drain the tray and restart until P1 disappears, and to call for service if the error repeats. The FHPW122AC1 manual lists "P1 appears in the display window" as a reason the unit won't operate and says to tilt the unit by lifting the front slightly until no more condensate comes out. P1 is a water-level warning, not a failed part, which is different from AS/EA (room temperature sensor), ES (evaporator or pipe sensor) and E4 (display communication), which those manuals say need an authorized service center. Frigidaire portable units with a continuous drain outlet can run a hose to a floor drain during dehumidify or dry mode so the tray doesn't fill.

Likely causes

• Condensate has filled the bottom tray, which is normal on humid days and more likely when running in dehumidify or dry mode without a drain hose
• Water left in the tray from last season (Frigidaire says the tray may be full on the first start-up of the season)
• Drain plug or cap loose, or the unit tilted, so water sits where the level sensor reads it as full
• If P1 returns immediately after a full drain: a water-level switch or control problem that needs service

Safe DIY checks

1. Turn the unit off and unplug it.
2. Move it carefully, keeping it upright, to a spot where water can run off, such as a tiled floor, a shower, or outside. A shallow pan or drip tray helps.
3. Remove the bottom drain plug (the cap and rubber stopper on the lower back) and let the water drain. Lift the front slightly to tilt the unit until no more water comes out, emptying the pan as often as needed.
4. Put the rubber stopper and cap back firmly, return the unit to its place, and leave it unplugged for about 30 seconds before plugging it back in to reset.
5. If you use dehumidify or dry mode a lot, connect a hose to the continuous drain outlet and run it to a drain lower than the outlet with no kinks. Frigidaire recommends capping that outlet again in cool or auto mode for best performance.
6. Before storing for winter, drain the tray completely and leave the plug out for a while so leftover water can drip out, then refit the plug.

Parts that commonly fix it

Always match the part number to your exact model.

Related codes

• i20 Frigidaire Dishwasher i20
• i30 Frigidaire Dishwasher i30
• PF Frigidaire Dishwasher PF
• E61 Frigidaire Dryer E61
• E64 Frigidaire Dryer E64

All Frigidaire codes →

Sources

1. Frigidaire: Room Air Conditioners - Error Code P1 (bottom tray is full; move to a drain location, remove the bottom drain plug, tilt if needed, unplug up to 30 seconds; tray may be full on first start-up of the season)
2. Frigidaire: Room Air Conditioners - Error Code Guide (article 1927618)
3. Frigidaire FHPW122AC1 portable air conditioner owner's manual (P1 condensate draining, tilting the unit, continuous drainage, winter storage; AS/ES/E4 fault codes)
4. Frigidaire FRA093PT1 portable air conditioner owner's guide, page 9 (P1 bottom tray full, restart until P1 disappears, call for service if it repeats; EA/ES/E4 fault codes)
5. Frigidaire FAP09C3AJW portable air conditioner manual, drainage page (unit beeps 8 times, shows P1 and stops; fan keeps running)